Niger recalls ambassador to Cote d’Ivoire for consultation

The National Council for the Safeguarding of the Country, the junta in power in Niger, recalled Monday August 14 the country’s Ambassador to Cote d’Ivoire in reaction to the Ivorian leader’s push for military intervention to restore deposed leader Mohamed Bazoum.
The decision followed recent remarks by Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara that indicated his “eagerness” to send troops to Niger for military intervention, Col. Amadou Abdramane, the spokesman of the junta said on National Television.
Cote d’Ivoire is part of few countries in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) rooting for a military intervention suggested by the bloc on August 10, aiming at forcing the junta that deposed Bazoum on July 26 to restore power.
President Ouattara last week briefing media in Abidjan, after the Summit that he had instructed the Chief of Staff of the Ivorian army “to start mobilizing his troops for their participation in this ECOWAS operation”, and that Ivory Coast is ready to provide a battalion of 850 to 1,100 troops.
The ECOWAS apart from the threat of military intervention has slapped economic sanctions on Niger as part of pressure but transitional Prime Minister appointed by the junta, Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine, argues that the poor African country can overcome them.